https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7611043/m/136108695

Getting some slow hits over there, figure I would post here too.

Backup? A Bowen Nimrod five-shot conversion on a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in 500 Linebaugh with color case hardened receiver and fossilized mastodon ivory grip panels might make a man leave his rifle at home...

quote:

Originally posted by nordrseta:
Backup? A Bowen Nimrod five-shot conversion on a Ruger Bisley Blackhawk in 500 Linebaugh with color case hardened receiver and fossilized mastodon ivory grip panels might make a man leave his rifle at home...

I applaud the selection of a Bowen revolver but do not agree with the caliber choice. A "back up" revolver, as any revolver, should be shot frequently to master it and use it well and accurately. For that I would choose a 45 Colt, shooting it with comfortable loads for practice; moving up to heavy loads, with some practice as well, for actual confrontations.

Well I am a firearm instructor and have fired more rounds than I have hair. I mastered the 454 so I am hopeful that I will be able to handle a little more....

It depends............ On where you live and what you may need the back up for.
Here in Alaska my choice is the 4 in S&W 500. If I lived in the lower 48 it would probably be a S&W 329. If bears were not an issue it would be any 357 mag.

I would be very interested in hearing more about your German 58 cal revolver.
I recall awhile back Hamilton Bowen made a 577 5 shot on a Redhawk. He had to register it as a destructive device.

For the most power in a small package, I think is a 475 Linebaugh. If it was able to drop a chargeing bull Elephant with a frontal brain shot(1 shot), then what more could be needed?

bill,

I can hardly agree with your logic in choosing a .45 Colt over a .500 Linebaugh. I can do the very same drill as far as light practice loads and working my way up to heavy loads. No need to not choose the bigger stick.

For the non dangerous game I like the .357mag,.41mag or a .44mag . For those leathal critters I would suguest a .45 colt or larger. From a penetration viewpoint I know from personal experience you can shoot compleetly through a 8"x8" block of ballistic gel at 40 yds with a 454 cassule and factory loads.Thats got to be enough penetration for most anything that walks.



"Revenge is a dish best served cold."Klingon proverb

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
bill, I can hardly agree with your logic in choosing a .45 Colt over a .500 Linebaugh. I can do the very same drill as far as light practice loads and working my way up to heavy loads. No need to not choose the bigger stick.

Personal preference, I guess, coupled with what one is comfortable with. I have seen guys try the bigger is better route, and develop such a flinching problem they could not hit well with a .22 after that. A flinching problem with a revolver is a much greater problem to resolve than with a rifle - in my experience anyway. Cannot fault your choice if that is what you are comfortable with. I had a .454 Casull for a time, and shot it well, but still prefer my 45 Colt overall.

LOL, why does this page have so many hits and noone has used the poll? Click the link,.

quote:

quote:

might make a man leave his rifle at home...

I applaud the selection of a Bowen revolver but do not agree with the caliber choice. A "back up" revolver, as any revolver, should be shot frequently to master it and use it well and accurately

Fair enough. I meant to suggest once the sidearm becomes powerful enough and handy enough and beautiful enough it will become our primary weapon. For the real world (and my real checkbook) I carry a S&W M629 Mtn Gun charged with Federal 300 gr Castcores when I don't want to be without a stout pistol. Be well.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
bill,

I can hardly agree with your logic in choosing a .45 Colt over a .500 Linebaugh. I can do the very same drill as far as light practice loads and working my way up to heavy loads. No need to not choose the bigger stick.

I'm another .45 Colt fan. I know that a .454 or a .475 or .500 Linebaugh would be a better Brown Bear/elephant killer, but since I don't like recoil from .44 mag full house loads I enjoy the .45 . The caliber and capacity are very flexible, with great power when needed, I just enjoy the milder loads most of the time. Less pressure, more pleasure...Tom

well you already mastered the 454 which is good choice but a 475 linebaugh is a great gun i had one made by dustin linebaugh.dustin linebaughconversions

tpdtom & billinthewild,

Guys don't take me wrong. I really like the .45 Colt as well and own a couple. But like I posted previously, one can work up to the "bearkiller" loads in the Linebaugh calibers just easily as with the .45.

Heavy 44 mags or 45 colts (300+ grainer) will work well with the right bullet in the hands of someone that can put the bullet where it needs to be. A good shot with a 44 mag is better than a poor shot with a 500 mag. .

And in the hands of someone who can apply it properly, 400 grains + will do an even better job of stopping dangerous game. Velocity is an ever-diminshing variable. Bullet weight and dameter are the only constants in the equation.

this is from another post awhile back here on ar about the 475 linebaugh i can't get the pics over but this is link to thread https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/...=495103465#495103465

Here are some pictures of an Alaskan Grizzly taken by Dustin Linebaugh and what he had to say about it:

"Here are a few bear pics, the first 3 are of my bear the last one is of my friend Tom & his bear two days earlier. A total of 3 bears in 3 days it was a good trip. I dispatched my bear with my old tried & true .475 24 grns of H110 with a 425 grn LFN muzzle velocity of 1100fps. The distance was 176 yds standing, the bear had just sat down from standing looking straight at us. The first round centered him in the chest penatrating straight through breaking the spine then exiting. After a round of congrats he started rolling around so I put two more broad side shots on him with my pistol. He measured 8.5 ft nose to tail his weight around 800 lbs best guess. For anyone interested in such an adventure contact www.Hollidayair.com attn Terry Holliday. Feel free to pass this around to your friends that might be interested in seeing them. "

Best Regards
Dustin Linebaugh

If you really want a back-up gun that will put down anything you could always get one of Gary Reeder's BMF's in 500 maximum.

Truthfully, one gains very little performance advantage with the Maximum rounds over the standard Linebaugh rounds. The additional recoil, noise, and muzzle blast "buy" you about an extra inch of penetration. The TKOs are a bit higher, but I doubt this will get you very far either.

Well with a pissed off buff or grizzly after me I would take any advantage I could get no matter how big or small. And there have been a few times I would have loved to have an extra inch for penetration. But I understand what you mean. I have a max bbl for the encore and it is harsh to say the least

I don't have to worry about bear around here (just mountain lions...go figure) so I use either my Blackhawk or my 657 Classic in .41 Mag. Kinda hankerin' for a SBH in .454 Casull though .

I'd have to go with the S&W Mountain Revolver in .44 Magnum or .45 Colt, because there are good defense loads and speed loaders avilable while in town. The same logic could be applied to the 5 1/2" Redhawk, with heavier loads.

I have a 500 Smith but I would be happy with my Taurus 44 with 300 gr XTPs at 1000-1100 fps.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
Truthfully, one gains very little performance advantage with the Maximum rounds over the standard Linebaugh rounds. The additional recoil, noise, and muzzle blast "buy" you about an extra inch of penetration. The TKOs are a bit higher, but I doubt this will get you very far either.

+1

Don't have much need for a heavy backup as I don't hunt in Alaska where the big bears roam. Only bear i ever killed was a Black on an accidental encounter. It was with a 3 1/2" Mdl 27 and I just shot him with all 6 rounds and he died. I would probably carry my Mdl 57 Mountain Gun now.I shoot it well with full loads and it should be a good Backup. The bigger bores like the 500's are HEAVY and if you don't carry it you won't have it.

Gentleman, I have seen in the last 5 years or so, more young and older men trying to master these current extremely large handgun calibers, at the shooting range of our gun club.

The amazing thing is that as lound and heavy hitting as these calibers seem to be, those that shoot them can't hit squat on the 2nd, 3rd shot etc. the distance being 15 yards. Now way can they rapid fire the weapon for 3 shots in a row, without stopping to adjust their grips.

I once thought I wanted something bigger than my model 29 S&W but after seeing many of these people shooting at our range, I decided I don't have enough years to master the added recoil of such a pistol. I'll instead stick with my model 29, a weapon I can hit the target with, 3 times in a row at 15 years.

Maximums give you the ability to shoot 525 grain bullets, vs. 440's, and, at considerably faster speeds, with less pressure.

Course, you have to hit what your aiming at, but, at a lower speed, the heavier bullet is shootable...

S

I can shoot a 500 grain bullet out of my standard Linebaugh and the extra velocity doesn't buy you a thing in terms of practical performance.

Update from little ol' me. Just shot a raging bull in.500 .Holly cow what a cannon!!!Muzzle flash was massive but cool.Recoil wasnt what I had expected . It wasnt any more than my .41mag with a warm load.
Due to this new experience I must re-vamp my previous post. Anything larger than deer as well as those mean critters . the .500 is now my prime choice. I'm going to get one as soon as finances allow....


"If this is America why must you press 1 for english"??????

I'm also a 45 Colt fan. I guess because I've been shooting Cowboy Action for so long that the single action just feels so comfortable to me! I love my 45LC Rugers and they're built like a tank. I have just picked up a 45LC S&W Mountain Gun and its a fine piece...not as strong as a Ruger though.

quote:

Originally posted by MS Hitman:
I can shoot a 500 grain bullet out of my standard Linebaugh and the extra velocity doesn't buy you a thing in terms of practical performance.

+1

I killed a Bison that scored 70 1/4 SCI with the 525 grain @ 1120 fps out of a 6" Barreled 500 Lineebaugh built by Jack Huntington and the bullet exited the animal. Only the one shot was required.
I ask how would the same bullet a few hundred fps faster have been better? I have a 50 Alaskan 5 shot revolver that shoots the 525 grainers @ 1550 fps and the added speed is only good for more recoil,and I have not noticed it to be more effective on game, even when fired from a rifle,with the added speed of the longer rifle barrel.